Chicago Landmarks

Considering a trip to the Windy City? Check out these Chicago tourist hot spots.

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Navy Pier

Jutting 3,300 feet out into Lake Michigan, Navy Pier is one of the most visited places in Chicago. The pier was built in 1916 as a cargo facility for freighters. Today, Navy Pier features a 150-foot-tall Ferris wheel, IMAX theater, the Chicago Shakespeare Theater and the Chicago Children's Museum.

Photo By: Cesar Russ Photography

Willis Tower

Formally known as the Sears Tower, Willis Tower stands 1,450 feet and 110 stories high, making it the tallest building in the western hemisphere. The building is open daily for trips to the Skydeck on the 103rd floor, which gives breathtaking views of the city. The Ledge is also an exciting option for risk-takers -- it's a glass balcony that extends four feet outside the 103rd floor.

Photo By: Chicago Convention and Tourism Bureau

The Chicago River

The Chicago River runs 156 miles through the greater Chicago area, including downtown. The river is especially known for the local custom of dyeing the water bright green for St. Patrick's Day.

Photo By: Cesar Russ Photography

Cloud Gate

More commonly and affectionately known as "The Bean," Cloud Gate is a public sculpture by Anish Kapoor. It is the centerpiece of Millennium Park, and it is made up of 168 stainless steel plates. With a highly polished, mirror-like exterior, "The Bean" is a popular tourist site and photo subject.

Photo By: The City of Chicago

John Hancock Center

The John Hancock Center is an iconic part of the Chicago skyline. Completed in 1970, the Hancock Center is an important building for local, national and international business.

Photo By: Chicago Convention and Tourism Bureau

The Museum of Science and Industry

The Museum of Science and Industry is the largest science museum in the western hemisphere. The museum features a working coal mine, a German submarine captured during World War II, a real Boeing 727 jet plane and the Apollo 8 spacecraft that flew the first humans to the moon.

Crown Fountain

Chicago features an extensive public art collection, including the Crown Fountain in Millennium Park. The fountain has two 50-foot glass block towers at each end of a shallow pool. The towers display video images of Chicago citizens, and project water through their mouths.

Photo By: Cesar Russ Photography

Soldier Field

Home to the Chicago Bears, Soldier Field was originally built in the 1920s as a memorial to American soldiers who died in wars. The Bears made it home in 1971, after playing in the Chicago Cub's home stadium, Wrigley Field, for 50 years. Soldier Field underwent renovation in 2003, and it sits on Lake Shore Drive near the South Side.

Photo By: The City of Chicago

The Trump International Hotel and Tower Aerial

The Trump International Hotel and Tower is a skyscraper condo-hotel in downtown Chicago. The 98-story structure is 1,389 feet tall, including its spire. The residence boasts luxury hotel services for its residents, a 24-hour doorman, 24-hour room service, a world-class spa and health club, in-home dining, dry cleaning and laundry valet.

Photo By: Aerialscapes, Curtis Waltz

Entrance to Rebar Restaurant and Lounge in Chicago

The condos in the Trump Tower have extravagant details. The bathrooms have limestone or marble floors and walls, an oversized air-jet and Whirlpool bathtub, granite or marble countertops, and a custom vanity. The kitchen features state-of-the-art stainless steel appliances, sleek Italian cabinetry and granite countertops.

Wrigley Field

Built in 1914, Wrigley Field has served as the home ballpark to the Chicago Cubs since 1916. The ballpark has a capacity of 41,160 and is the second oldest park in Major League Baseball, right behind Fenway Park in Boston. Wrigley Field is known for its ivy-covered brick outfield wall, the hand-turned scoreboard and the iconic red marquee over the main entrance.

Photo By: The City of Chicago

U.S. Cellular Field

U.S. Cellular Field opened in 1991 after the Chicago White Sox spent 81 years at Comiskey Park. The stadium is located just west of the Dan Ryan Expressway, and was built directly across the street from old Comiskey Park, which was demolished to make room for parking.

Photo By: Frederick Nachman

Chicago Theatre

Constructed in 1921 as a movie theater, The Chicago Theatre was designed by architects Cornelius W. Rapp and George L. Rapp in their signature Neo-Baroque, French Revival style.

Photo By: Cesar Russ Photography

Buckingham Fountain

The Buckingham Fountain in Grant Park opened in 1927 and has become one of Chicago's top attractions. It was donated to the city by Kate Buckingham, and it is made of pink Georgia marble. From April to October, there are regular water shows and evening light shows.